1. The National Liberation Revolution
The National Liberation Revolution of 1911, which ended the 200-year rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in Mongolia, restored the Mongolian state, and marked the beginning of the Mongolian people’s revival. It is a special event in the history of the Mongolian people with ancient traditions of statehood, and a historical event that future generations should remember with pride. This National Liberation Revolution was the embodiment of the Mongolian people’s decades-long unyielding desire and persistent struggle to restore their ancient and independent state, the beginning of a great revival of national consciousness, and the actual ground for the People’s Revolution of 1921.
2. First Olympic Gold Medal
At Beijing 2008, judoka Naidan Tüvshinbayar earned its first ever Olympic gold, and showed incredible bravery in his bid to defend his title four years later.
3. 1945 Voting for Independence
In 1945, the Central Asian Republic sent a note to our country stating that the issue of independence could be considered depending on the results of the people’s vote. Based on the above note, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the People’s Republic of China issued the following resolution at its 76th meeting on September 21, 1945.
“It is resolved that all peoples will vote simultaneously on October 20 throughout the entire territory of the country.”
Also, Resolution No. 85 stated that “Write either “approval” or “rejection” on voting paper. If you do not know the handwriting, press the thumb of your right hand.” When the voting began, officials from the Central Asian Republic government, led by Li Fa Zhan, came to observe. The voting ended on that day, and on the 30th of that month, a protocol was drawn up, a resolution was issued, and it was submitted to the governments of the USSR and the Central Asian Republics.
As a result of this great work, in January 1946, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to Marshal Khorloo Choibalsan confirming his recognition of the independence of Mongolia.
4. 1206 The Great Mongol Empire founded
In the latter half of the 12th century, dozens of nomadic tribes, including the Khamag Mongols, the Khareids, the Mergids, the Tatars, and the Naimans, were in perpetual war in the lands of Mongolia. Genghis Khan, who was crowned Khan of the Khamag Mongols in 1189, used political and military power to unite neighboring tribes and establish the Great Mongol Empire in 1206.
Thus, a powerful empire was born, occupying the largest territory in world history.
5. 1921 The People’s Revolution Wins
The People’s Revolution of 1921 was a revolution for a sovereign state of the people, led by the Mongolian People’s Party, against foreign aggression. As a result of the victory of the People’s Revolution, the foreign invaders were expelled, the feudal system was abolished, and the People’s Republic of Mongolia was proclaimed. The 1921 Revolution was not a communist revolution, but a national democratic revolution. The 1911 Revolution was started by the clergy, while the 1921 Revolution was started by the common people, lower and middle-ranking officials, military leaders, and petty bourgeoisie. Since the revolution was started by ordinary people, it is sometimes called the National Democratic Revolution of 1921
6. 1961 Joined the UN
Mongolia submitted five applications to join the UN in 1946-1949, 1952, 1955-1957, and 1961. After the ninth attempt, the Chinese delegation walked out of the meeting, and after a vote, Mongolia was recommended to the General Assembly for membership in the UN. Mongolia became a member of the UN on October 27, 1961.
For a total of fifteen years, the reasons for opposing the admission of the Mongolian People’s Republic to the UN were: the Mongolian People’s Republic had no diplomatic experience, its foreign policy was not independent, it was criticized as a colony and satellite of the Soviet Union, and it was not recognized globally. However, looking at it from today’s perspective, it is clear that this was a situation directly related to the system at that time. Therefore, one of the main external factors that negatively affected the accession of the Mongolian People’s Republic to the UN was the “Cold War”, and the conflict between the two systems was transferred to the UN, which led to a deadlock not only for Mongolia but also for many other countries that wanted to join.
7. 1990 The Democratic Revolution Won
It is believed that the democratic revolution in Mongolia began on December 10, 1989, when they held their first rally outside the Children and Youth Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar and issued 13 demands, including establishing a multi-party system, respecting human rights, holding early general elections in the first half of 1990, exonerating the oppressed, and guaranteeing freedom of the press.
When the ruling Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party and the state administration failed to respond, on March 7, 1990, 10 members of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party’s Central Committee declared a political hunger strike in the central square of the capital. After the first political hunger strike in Mongolia, on March 8, 1990, the talks broadcast live on radio and television were attended by the General Coordinator of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party, Sanjaasuren Zorig, as well as active activists Elbegdorj, Dorligjav, Ganbold, Baabar, Bat-Uul, Gonchigdorj, and Baasan, as well as representatives of the hunger strikers, on the one hand, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People’s Republic, Dumaagiin Sodnom, and Deputy Chairman Dashin Byambasuren, on the other.
As a result of the talks that continued on the 8th and 9th, the parties reached an agreement, and the political hunger strike ended when the head of the party, Jambyn Batmunkh, announced the resignation of the entire Political Bureau of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
In July 1990, Mongolia’s first democratic elections were held, and democracy was established.
8. 1981 J. Gurragchaa flew into space
The Mongolian spaceflight began in 1976. At that time, a secret resolution of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party established a commission headed by S. Jalan-Aajavaar to prepare for spaceflight. A year later, Surenkhorloo, M. Ganzorig, J. Gurragchaa, and D. Saintsog were selected for spaceflight training and sent to the star city for training. Of them, M. Ganzorig and J. Gurragchaa remained and passed all the criteria, and J. Gurragchaa, a native of Gurvanbulag soum, Bulgan aimag, and the son of a herder, flew into space.
The astronauts took off on the Soyuz-39 spacecraft, docked with the Salyut-6 space station, and successfully landed on Earth after spending 7 days, 20 hours, and 42 minutes in space, orbiting the Earth 124 times. They became the first Mongolian, second Asian, and 101st people in the world to fly into space.
9. 1968 First Olympic Medal of Mongolia
The Mexico City Olympics were the first held in Latin America. It was the second time Mongolians participated in the Summer Olympics. 16 athletes went to the country, winning one silver, three bronze, and two gold medals, and Mongolia finished 27th.
Freestyle wrestler Jigjidiyin Munkhbat defeated athletes from East Germany, Mexico, and Switzerland on points in the 87 kg weight category, and defeated athletes from Bulgaria and the Soviet Union in the 4th round. He defeated athletes from Bulgaria and the Soviet Union in the 5th and 6th rounds, and won the Olympic silver medal and raised the flag of his country in the Olympic sky. After him, T. Artag in 78 kg, D. Sereeter in 70 kg, and Ch. Damdinsharav in 52 kg became the bronze medalists.
Due to the strange rules of the time, J. Monkhbat did not lose a single match, but he won the silver medal.
10. 1945 Victory in the War of Liberation
Japan had amassed a large military force near the Mongolian border, established large fortifications at the Khaalgan, Rashaan, and Zhangchhuu (Zhangjiakou) passes, and built military railways, roads, and airports. It continued to provoke the Mongolian People’s Republic and violate its borders as before. Japan spread various slanders about Mongolia and tried to turn the people of China and Inner Mongolia against Mongolia. On July 26, 1945, it demanded the unconditional surrender of the three powers that were at war with Japan: the United States, Britain, and China. The Japanese government did not accept it. The Soviet government, fulfilling its obligations at the Crimean Conference, terminated the non-aggression pact with Japan on April 5, 1945, and declared war on Japan on August 9. In order to contribute to the public sacred cause of honest humanity, to ensure the security of its own country, and to fulfill its obligations under the Mongolian-Soviet Mutual Assistance Protocol, the Government of the Mongolian People’s Republic also declared war on Japan on August 10, 1945.
